Abstract
The continuous increase of the global urban population and vehicle fleet is strongly related to the transportation and environmental problems in global, regional and local scale. The realisation of the planning, the survey of the metropolitan centre development and the co-ordination of the various institutions is necessary to be executed by a special organisation. The key to the successful realisation of the sustainable development and environmental protection in a metropolitan area such as Thessaloniki is the citizens participation and an informal «social agreement», based on an integrated plan including a long term transportation planning, an appropriate environmental policy and modern technology telematics applications.